Fears for a fourth wave

 There are fears of a fourth wave of Covid 19 in Spain as the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 rises to 152. Read on though because the figures are not consistent across the whole of the country and the rate in Valencia still remains below the critical level.  

Seven territories have an incidence rate above the 150-threshold considered an indicator of high risk: Asturias, Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre, the Basque Country and the North African exclave cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Four regions are very close to this limit: Andalusia, Aragón, Castilla y León and La Rioja. In another five, the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants remains below 100: the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencia region, Galicia and Murcia.

Further to my post yesterday, the Public Health Committee here decided not to change the age limit for the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine. In other words, it will only be given to those under the age of 65.  An exception was made for essential workers over 65 of which there are very few. 

Interestingly, Germany will only administer AstraZeneca vaccines to people over the age of 60 following new reports of blood clots among younger recipients. France had already made a similar decision on March 19, when it reserved the vaccine for people over 55. 

If you considered these different positions to be valid, then you would not want the Anglo Swedish vaccine at any age. 

I know that some in Britain, including Government Ministers,  believe that Europe is dismissing this vaccine out of spite because of supply issues. However, I'd like to think that European Health Authorities do not take decisions based on politics. Their concerns  may prove to be unfounded by further research but until then it is prudent to not take risks.